Patents by Inventor Stephen Wahlgren
Stephen Wahlgren has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9402999Abstract: A medical patch having a multi-piece bottom liner including a central liner sequentially removable independently of two outer perimeter liners. The multi-piece liner covering two adhesives of different peel force. Removal of the central liner exposes a first temporary/repositionable adhesive. Once properly positioned, the outer perimeter liners are removed to expose a second stronger adhesive. A foam cushioning layer is disposed beneath and extends beyond a footprint of every printed circuit board to prevent skin irritation. The medical patch may be designed specifically for stimulation of the sacral (S3 foramen) spinal nerve without the use of a separate mechanical placement tool or assistance by another.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2012Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Wahlgren, Martin J. Nohilly, Anthony R. DiUbaldi, Rex O. Bare, Bradley Sargent, Michael W. Ammerman, Jeffrey C. Smith, Kathryn M. Kukulka
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Patent number: 8897885Abstract: A method and associated stimulation device for ensuring firing of an action potential in an intended physiological target activated by a stimulus pulse generated by an electrode of a non-invasive surface based stimulation device irrespective of skin-to-electrode impedance by: (i) increasing internal impedance of the stimulation device so as to widen a Chronaxie time period thereby ensuring firing of the action potential of the intended physiological target irrespective of the skin-to-electrode impedance; and/or (ii) generating a stimulation waveform that optimizes a non-zero average current (e.g., non-zero slope of the envelope of the stimulation waveform) during preferably substantially the entire current decay of the stimulus pulse.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Anthony DiUbaldi, Stephen Wahlgren
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Patent number: 8588930Abstract: A method for stimulating a predetermined body part such as a nerve using a stimulation device including an external non-implantable transmitting device powered by a power source and generating an electrical waveform signal. A surface electrode applies the generated electrical waveform signal transcutaneously. An implantable piezoelectric element receives the applied electrical waveform signal generated transcutaneously and, in turn, causes mechanical deformation resulting in mechanical vibration of the implantable piezoelectric element sufficient to stimulate the predetermined body part. The electrical waveform signal may be either a high frequency continuous waveform or high frequency burst packets.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Anthony DiUbaldi, Stephen Wahlgren, Michael R. Tracey
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Publication number: 20130296996Abstract: A medical patch having a multi-piece bottom liner including a central liner sequentially removable independently of two outer perimeter liners. The multi-piece liner covering two adhesives of different peel force. Removal of the central liner exposes a first temporary/repositionable adhesive. Once properly positioned, the outer perimeter liners are removed to expose a second stronger adhesive. A foam cushioning layer is disposed beneath and extends beyond a footprint of every printed circuit board to prevent skin irritation. The medical patch may be designed specifically for stimulation of the sacral (S3 foramen) spinal nerve without the use of a separate mechanical placement tool or assistance by another.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2012Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Wahlgren, Martin J. Nohilly, Anthony R. DiUbaldi, Rex O. Bare, Bradley Sargent, Michael W. Ammerman, Jeffrey C. Smith, Kathryn M. Kukulka
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Patent number: 8175718Abstract: A system for stimulating a nerve or nerves in a patient includes an electrode patch having an array of equally spaced concentric electrodes each having a central cathode and a concentrically surrounding anode. The electrode array patch is used to determine the location of the nerve or nerves to be stimulated by electrical pulses. Once the location of the nerve is determined, a concentric electrode patch having a central cathode and a concentrically surrounding anode is positioned at the optimal location on the patient's skin to effect neurostimulation. The concentric electrode patch may be removably affixed to the patient's skin by adhesive or magnets.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Wahlgren, Anthony DiUbaldi, John Young, Michael Freeman
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Patent number: 8128576Abstract: An implantable urodynamic system includes an implantable first device deployable in a patient's bladder, an implantable second device deployable in a patient's vaginal canal, and a data acquisition and analysis module or processing unit external to the body of the patient. The first device includes a magnet and an inductive coil, and the second device includes a magnet, an inductive coil and a battery. When deployed in the patient's body, attraction between the magnets maintains the two devices in close proximity to one another to effect an inductive coupling between the coils so that the first device may be powered by the battery of the second device. The urodynamic system is intended to facilitate measurement, collection, and wireless transmission of real-time, or near real-time, data (bladder pressure, abdominal pressure, and temperature) from an ambulatory patient.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Tracey, Anthony DiUbaldi, Stephen Wahlgren, Rex O. Bare, Bradley J. Sargent
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Patent number: 7970478Abstract: A method and system for optimizing stimulation therapy of an external stimulating device. The stimulating signal for stimulation of a target nerve is produced using the external stimulating device. A magnetic field is induced in an implanted transmitting coil disposed proximate the target nerve when the action potential is fired along an axon of the target nerve. In turn, a feedback signal is generated in a receiving coil associated with the external stimulating device based on whether the target nerve fires an action potential. Stimulating signal parameters of the stimulating signal are adjusted based on the feedback signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Wahlgren, Michael R. Tracey
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Publication number: 20100249677Abstract: A method for stimulating a predetermined body part such as a nerve using a stimulation device including an external non-implantable transmitting device powered by a power source and generating an electrical waveform signal. A surface electrode applies the generated electrical waveform signal transcutaneously. An implantable piezoelectric element receives the applied electrical waveform signal generated transcutaneously and, in turn, causes mechanical deformation resulting in mechanical vibration of the implantable piezoelectric element sufficient to stimulate the predetermined body part. The electrical waveform signal may be either a high frequency continuous waveform or high frequency burst packets.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Anthony DiUbaldi, Stephen Wahlgren, Michael R. Tracey
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Publication number: 20100161005Abstract: A method and system for optimizing stimulation therapy of an external stimulating device. The stimulating signal for stimulation of a target nerve is produced using the external stimulating device. A magnetic field is induced in an implanted transmitting coil disposed proximate the target nerve when the action potential is fired along an axon of the target nerve. In turn, a feedback signal is generated in a receiving coil associated with the external stimulating device based on whether the target nerve fires an action potential. Stimulating signal parameters of the stimulating signal are adjusted based on the feedback signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Wahlgren, Michael R. Tracey
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Publication number: 20100161001Abstract: A method and associated stimulation device for ensuring firing of an action potential in an intended physiological target activated by a stimulus pulse generated by an electrode of a non-invasive surface based stimulation device irrespective of skin-to-electrode impedance by: (i) increasing internal impedance of the stimulation device so as to widen a Chronaxie time period thereby ensuring firing of the action potential of the intended physiological target irrespective of the skin-to-electrode impedance; and/or (ii) generating a stimulation waveform that optimizes a non-zero average current (e.g., non-zero slope of the envelope of the stimulation waveform) during preferably substantially the entire current decay of the stimulus pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Anthony DiUbaldi, Stephen Wahlgren
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Publication number: 20080147146Abstract: A system for stimulating a nerve or nerves in a patient includes an electrode patch having an array of equally spaced concentric electrodes each having a central cathode and a concentrically surrounding anode. The electrode array patch is used to determine the location of the nerve or nerves to be stimulated by electrical pulses. Once the location of the nerve is determined, a concentric electrode patch having a central cathode and a concentrically surrounding anode is positioned at the optimal location on the patient's skin to effect neurostimulation. The concentric electrode patch may be removably affixed to the patient's skin by adhesive or magnets.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Stephen Wahlgren, Anthony DiUbaldi, John Young, Michael Freeman
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Publication number: 20080139875Abstract: An implantable urodynamic system includes an implantable first device deployable in a patient's bladder, an implantable second device deployable in a patient's vaginal canal, and a data acquisition and analysis module or processing unit external to the body of the patient. The first device includes a magnet and an inductive coil, and the second device includes a magnet, an inductive coil and a battery. When deployed in the patient's body, attraction between the magnets maintains the two devices in close proximity to one another to effect an inductive coupling between the coils so that the first device may be powered by the battery of the second device. The urodynamic system is intended to facilitate measurement, collection, and wireless transmission of real-time, or near real-time, data (bladder pressure, abdominal pressure, and temperature) from an ambulatory patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2006Publication date: June 12, 2008Inventors: Michael R. Tracey, Anthony DiUbaldi, Stephen Wahlgren, Rex O. Bare, Bradley J. Sargent
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Publication number: 20050042590Abstract: A device and method is provided for simulating a tubular body part having a mechanism for resisting fluid flow therethrough, such as the urethra. The device includes a housing having a having a first end, a second end, and a channel therethrough extending between an inlet at the first end of the housing and an outlet, and a plug member positioned within the channel and being sized and shaped to substantially occlude the channel at a predetermined location when a predetermined force is exerted on a first side thereof. The plug member is further movable within the channel so that, when a fluid force within the channel and exerted on a second opposite side of the plug member exceeds the predetermined force, the plug member no longer occludes the channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2003Publication date: February 24, 2005Inventors: Mark Howansky, Mosaddeq Hossain, Stephen Wahlgren